Two minor siblings went missing while crossing the Nilkumor River, after the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) chased them as they were in a group looking to cross the border at Phulbari in Kurigram to enter Bangladesh without any paperwork on Friday night. 

The victims were identified as Parveen Khatun, 8 and Shakibul Hasan, 4.

They were the children of Rahim Uddin of Poschim Shukati village in Newashi union of Nageshwari upazila.

Kabir Hossain, company commander of Lalmonihat's Kashipur, said, "We have heard that two children went missing on their way to Bangladesh from India." 

A patrol team has been sent to the relevant section of the border.

Besides, the BSF has been informed about this, he added.

Rahim Uddin, the father of the missing children, said that his children were born and brought up in India. They had never previously come to Bangladesh. 

Read: Two held in Kurigram for illegal border crossing

"I wanted to bring them along with their mother to Bangladesh and I contacted Indian brokers to bring them home safely, paying Tk 30,000," Rahim Uddin revealed.

According to the contract, Rahim Uddin's wife and two children were taken to a house on the border on Friday night. There were 20-25 more people there including women and children.

He further said that they tried to cross the Rdhampur border of Kashipur union of Phulbari upazila next to the main pillar No. 943 at midnight. At that time, BSF members of Shewti-1 camp in India gave chase after seeing them and they tried to cross the river hurriedly.

At one stage, they went missing due to the strong current in the river. However, his wife managed to swim ashore, he added.

Adam Ali Bakul, a former UP member of Fulbari Sadar Union, said many people gathered on the banks of the Nilkumar River to search for  the missing children.